Unseasonal Warm Waters off British Columbia Coast

This Oct. 17, 2018 image from Environment and Climate Change Canada shows anomalies in sea surface temperature. Yellow, orange and red areas, like the large patch off the B.C. coast, are warmer than normal. (weather.gc.ca)

Now, Armel Castellan with Environment and Climate Change Canada says it appears a warm-water patch dubbed the “son of the blob” is establishing itself off B.C.’s coast.

“To see a blob sort of establish itself at this time of year is sort of surprising,” Castellan said. “It’s a symptom of the enduring or stagnant weather we’ve been having over the last four years.”

Unusual, summer-like conditions in northern and central B.C. is being blamed for “concerning” droughts in vast swaths of the province. Castellan said this newest emergence of a blob in the Pacific Ocean is likely connected to the patterns causing these droughts.

Climate change connection

Castellan says that the conditions to form a blob occur when weather systems are largely stable and unchanging. A lack of wind and precipitation over the ocean means water does not mix very well, so water near the surface warms up, stays put and stays warm because it can’t mix with deeper, cooler water.